Professors at all five WA universities have made a scathing assessment of the state government’s track record in climate action, accusing it of being “too close to the LNG industry”.
Key points:
- Scholars say gas producers have “special access” to government
- They want to counter powerful industrial groups
- WA is the only Australian state with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions
A letter signed by 20 academics, emailed to all WA MPs, says, unlike other Australian states, WA’s greenhouse gas emissions have increased, in large part due to sectors such as gas and alumina.
The letter reached the MP’s mailboxes on Tuesday this week, the same day the McGowan government announced that state-owned electricity supplier Synergy would close its remaining coal plants by 2029.
By phasing out coal energy, Synergy said its carbon emissions will be reduced by 80% by 2030.
But Curtin law school scholar Hugh Finn, one of those behind the letter, said the closure of the coal plants would only take WA halfway to where it should be.
Dr. Hugh Finn says the current regulations are weak and the state needs new laws. (ABC News: Hugh Sando)
“Its emissions are lower than the four alumina refineries we have in the state and much less than the LNG production facilities we have in that state,” Dr. Finn said.
The long-term climatic ramifications
Scholars, from various disciplines, are part of the Beeliar group that was created to fight the plans of the previous state coalition government to build a highway extension across the Beeliar wetlands.
This week’s letter calls on parliamentarians to do their job and hold the McGowan government accountable for climate action.
Dora Marinova is one of 20 academics taking a stand against the WA government on climate. (ABC News: Hugh Sando)
Sustainability professor Dora Marinova said that by approving new fossil fuel-based gas projects, such as the Scarborough project in Woodside, the government was leaving much of the task of reducing emissions to future generations.
“These are decisions that will have long-term implications for my children, my grandchildren,” she said.
Dora Marinova (with her grandchildren, Alex and Daniel) says the McGowan government is leaving the weather to future generations to fix. (ABC News: supplied)
“We know that there is a strong influence of the industry on the way decisions are made.
“That’s why we organize ourselves as a group of scientists concerned with balancing a very powerful industrial sector.”
‘Special access’ to government
Dr Finn said gas industry lobbyists and business representatives had “special access” and influence within the government and that needed to change.
He cited as an example the removal by the Environmental Protection Authority of controversial guidelines requiring companies to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.
“An example of this is the extraordinary public disapproval in the EPA that took place in March 2019 in which members of the state government, ministers and the prime minister basically endorsed the opinions, the firm opinions of LNG industry leaders, “he said.
The group is calling for an independent review of the regulations governing emissions from the industry, which they claim are weak and ineffective.
Peter Newman has been an outspoken opponent of the Woodborne Scarborough Project. (ABC News: Jessica Warriner)
Environmental scientist Peter Newman, who is also part of the Beeliar Group, said they were not trying to stop projects, including Scarborough, but were modifying them so that the state could align with the goal of the Glasgow Climate Pact to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030..
He said this meant that projects had to be decarbonised away from the combustion of gas and coal to run their processes.
“Anything new in oil, gas and coal should basically not happen unless they are able to completely change the implications of greenhouse gases,” he said.
“We have to take the weather seriously.”
Gas industry ‘offers jobs’
Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy Bill Johnston said he had not seen the letter, but that WA had a proud history of carbon emissions.
“Just by taking Synergy as an example, it has reduced its carbon emissions by 50% since 2005,” Johnston said.
“As far as our LNG export industry is concerned, I know there are some people who do not support our LNG export industry, but it offers thousands of jobs and is the core of our energy sector here in Australia. Western, because of our political reservation.
“People are calling for it today [reservation policy] entering the east coast, so demanding that end today is not a sensible approach. “
But the Beeliar group says it does not suggest shutting down the industry, but rather modifying it to use renewable energy for its processes, unlike fossil fuels.
Call for transparency of political donations
They have called for legislation that would force a 2030 emissions reduction target for the state.
The Climate Integrity Bill would also include provisions governing the access of “big broadcasters” to government ministers, ministerial staff and senior public officials.
This would include a legal requirement to publish ministerial newspapers and provide real-time information on donations from corporate political parties.
A state government spokesman said in a statement that a process is underway to provide a framework for companies and industry to achieve zero net emissions by 2050.
He said WA had been Australia’s most progressive jurisdiction in regulating greenhouse gas emissions from major projects to achieve zero net by 2050.
“The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) published its guide to greenhouse gases in 2020, which sets out the requirements for major emitters. Many other jurisdictions are now following the EPA’s example.” says the statement.
“Since 2020, the state has imposed conditions on some of the largest issuers, and the state EPA is now looking at the top five issuers in Western Australia.”
Woodside expects its Scarborough development to release 878 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over its lifetime.
The company aims to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030, with measures that include tree planting and better technology.